The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-03-09
NOMINATIONS.
THEIR RECEPTION BY THE UNI
TED STATES SENATE.
Carried in a Carriage From the
White House to the Senate
Chamber-How They
Are Acted Upon.

nue. at lively rate drawing a comfort.
able looking carriage containing single
occupant, holding tight one or more
mammoth envelopes. The destination is
the Capitol, and the starting point was
the front portico of the White House.
The occupant is Mr.. o. L. Pruden, some
times called Sergeant" Pruden, because
of his antipathy to the title of Major: He
is the Assistant Secretary to the President,
O position he has held since General
Grant became President. He is on his
way to the Capitol with message from
the President in writing" The horses
and carriage in question form the Office
turnout, belonging to the White House.
Upon the change of Administration there
was good deal of retrenchment in the
matter of Government horses and car
riages, but this team was necessarily re-
tanned.
The horses are we'll matched, and while
not flyers in the. professional meaning OF
the term, are good enough travellers to
make the trip from the White House to
the Capitol in a very few minutes. Any
one who is on the avenue often at this
time of day cannot have failed to notice
this turnout and become accustomed to
seeing it on account of the regularity OF
its appearance. The team does not 60
dashing up the avenue like fire engine,
bnt as little time as possible Is lost IN
order that the Senate may not adjourn
between the time of leaving the White
House and reaching the Capitol. The
most unfrequented side of the street IS
chosen in order to make good time. The
horses are generally driven down the west
side of Fifteenth street and along the
south side of the avenue. The object OF
the errand is generally to convey nomina-
tions made by the President to the Sen
ate, although occasionally there is a
tersely written veto contained in the big
official envelope. The interest Of the
public centres in learning what the nomi-
nations are. They are Immediately an
nounced, upon receipt by the Senate,
through the newspapers, and then attract
no more public attention until it Is
learned how they have been treated by
the Senate in executive session, when
they once more become objects of general
interest.
Usually, the filling of vacancy is q
matter of frequent and serious confer
ences between the President and the
officer of the Cabinet to whose depart
ment the office in question belongs.
Qualifications of applicants, the influence
back of them, the probable political
effect of their selection for the place are
all weighed in the balance beforehand.
The weighing is generally done at the
Cabinet meetings, and it sometimes hap
pens that other Cabinet officers than the
one directly concerned take hand in
making the scales balance. After a de-
cision is reached and the man selected
for the position, the Cabinet officer di-
rectly responsible returns to bis depart
ment and directs that a nomination be
made out for the man selected. This Is
done upon regular printed form, which
is sent to the White House usually the
next day to receive the Presidents sigma
ture.
Sometimes the nomination is simply
written at the White House. Every day
nearly a number of these forms are re-
ceived at the White House, and when
signed constitute the days nominations.
They are gusrdel ! with the most Jealous
care from the glze of strangers or of in
quisitive newspaper reporters until they
shall have been delivered into the hand
of the Senate, and then all secresy is re-
moved. Even after the nominations have
left the White House not particle OF
information of their character can be OBJ
tanned at the up town end of the lie
until the telegram denominations de-
ivered" is received. This care is neces-
sary because of the danger of the Senates
adiourning before the Secretary has had
time to reach the Senate Chamber, which
would prevent the" nominations from
being delivered until the next day. A
premature announcement might prove an
unintentional slight to the Senate, which
would be considered breach of official
etiquette. Early in the afternoon the
days nominations arc collected and mani
fold copies of the names and respective
offices are made for the convenience Of
the reporters at the Capitol. These copies
are given out as soon as the nominations
are delivered, and simultaneously almost
the news is sent all over the country.
Mr.. Pruden upon reaching the Capitol
makes his way to the main entrance of the
Senate floor, where Mr.. Bassett, who is
continually on the lookout for him, takes
him in charge. Mr.. Bassett's announce
ment to the President of the Senate OF
the arrival of message from the Presi-
dent Immediately suspends the business
in hand. Mr.. Pruden, who has taken a
few steps down the main aisle, says: II
am directed by the President of the Uni
ted States to present a message in writ
ing" The envelope is carried to the
Presidents desk, the ceremony is over,
and business is resumed. Nothing is
heard of the nominations until the Senate
has acted upon them, which may be days
or weeks. Notification is then sent to
the department to which each belongs,
whether it has been rejected or confirmed.
If nominee is confirmed a commission
is made out at the department in the reg
ular course of business, and in the same
way is sent to the White House. When
it has received the Presidents signature
the appointment is complete and the ner
official dates his term of Office from this
date on his commission. The commission
is again returned to the department to
which it belongs and delivered or mailed
to the proper person, who upon its receipt
takes the oath of Office and is legally en-
titled to enter upon the discharge of his
new duties. - Washington Star.
Three Stages Of COurtship.
bliss Martha G.. Martin, an attendant